Transit Fares

Should Transit Systems Break from the Low Fare Orthodoxy?

A proposal for a radical reinvention of the fare structure for the country's transit systems—one that balances the cost of transit with that of driving, generates more revenue from fares, and enables more capital investments.

July 15, 2014 - CityLab

MARTA's 2015 Budget Expands Rail Service

While many transit agencies around the country have increased fares in recent months to deal with budget deficits, Atlanta's MARTA has reported good financial news and has even proposed a 2015 budget that expands rail service.

June 6, 2014 - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Explained: the Ever-Increasing Transit Fare

Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles—all major cities that have mulled transit fare increases in recent months. Eric Jaffe examines the numbers behind the continuous need for transit agencies to raise the price of a fare.

April 10, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Proposed Transit Fare Increase Provokes Strong Opposition in Los Angeles

More than 500 “activists, students and low-wage workers” spent their Saturday at a public hearing at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority imploring the agency’s board not to raise fees.

March 31, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Transit Fare Hike Sparks Civil Unrest in Mexico City

A move by Mexico City's mayor to raise fares for the city's run-down, but essential, subway system by 66 percent has sparked a protest movement.

January 1, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Bay Area Considers Basing Transit Fares on Need

Transportation officials in the greater San Francisco area have been debating a proposal to provide free public transit for low-income youth. They are now considering the possibility of basing fares on income, rather than age or disability.

December 4, 2012 - San Francisco Examiner

Time-Based or Distance-Based Transit Fares: Is One Better Than the Other?

Is there a difference between the two most common fare structures in public transit?

October 23, 2010 - TheCityFix

How To Raise Fares

A couple of weeks ago, I was on a bus in Chicago and noticed something that I had not noticed before- that how you paid to get on the bus affected how long you took to get on the bus.  People who flashed monthly passes boarded in a few seconds.  People who put in dollar bills got on a lot more slowly, as they fumbled for the right number of bills.  People who had to pay change took longer still.  So to speed buses’ on-time performance (pun intended) transit agencies should encourage the former and discourage the latter.

August 13, 2010 - Michael Lewyn

Used MetroCards Make Big Litter - MTA Proposes a Solution

They litter almost every subway entrance - the ubiquitous, value-exhausted plastic MetroCards. Yet, MetroCards are refillable. Now MTA has devised a simple, revenue-producing measure that would reduce the litter by adding a $1 fee to new cards.

July 11, 2010 - New York Post

Can Free Fares Save Public Transit?

With 100 percent subsidies, transit agencies could drop the pretense of being businesses and serve many more people -- or so proponents say. Agencies aren't so sure.

November 24, 2009 - InTransition Magazine

Ticket to Ride Now Needed in L.A.

Turnstiles are coming to the Los Angeles subway. Some say the move will help raise revenue for the city's transit authority, given its recent increases in ridership.

September 7, 2009 - Next American City

Portland's Fareless Square to Start Charging

The largest free mass transit area in the U.S. is changing its rules next year, when it will start charging people to ride the bus.

August 14, 2009 - The Oregonian

Do They Really Need Money?

A debate over the MBTA fare hike will begin soon in earnest, focusing on whether the MBTA needs money.

June 16, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Twin Cities Transit Ridership Up, Funding Down

Ridership is up on transit in the Twin Cities. Fewer cars are being sold, and tax revenues are down. With little funding expected to fill the gap, transit fare increases may be on the horizon.

February 5, 2009 - Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune

MTA Rescue Plan Wins Support Of NY Governor

The MTA rescue plan, with its new East & Harlem River bridge tolls and first-ever, 12-county transit payroll tax cleared a major political hurdle by winning the crucial support of NY Gov' Paterson. Winning support from mayor, outer boroughs remains.

December 9, 2008 - The New York Times

New Bridge Tolls and Payroll Tax Proposed For NYC Transit

A rescue package for New York’s debt-ridden M.T.A. includes two new revenue generators: first-ever tolls for the East and Harlem River bridges, and a 12-county, corporate payroll tax, to supplement fare and toll increases and transit service cuts.

December 4, 2008 - The New York Times

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